25 Great Scholarships for Catholic Students

As the oldest and most established branch of Christianity with a vested interest in helping its adherents attain post-secondary education, some churches, universities, and private organizations have created scholarships for Catholic students to achieve their educational and career goals serving others in the community. While there are an enormous number of scholarships for Christians in general, it can be somewhat challenging for Catholic students to locate funding options specifically for their faith. Luckily, the following is a compiled list of 25 of the most generous scholarships for Catholic students just like you to reach your college dreams.

1. Ann and Monroe Carell Jr. Catholic Teacher Education Scholarship

Deadline: February 15th

At Aquinas College in Nashville, the Ann and Monroe Carell Jr. Catholic Teacher Education Scholarship is awarded annually to provide financial assistance to a Catholic student enrolled in the teacher education program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. All eligible applicants must demonstrate leadership potential, enroll in at least 12 credit hours each semester, and be recommended from a parish priest or clergy member.

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2. Archdiocesan Scholarships

Deadline: April 1st

As the most prestigious awards granted at the Catholic University of America, the Archdiocesan Scholarships provide full-tuition awards to five incoming freshmen Catholic students who exhibit an excellent academic record and outstanding potential. For consideration, candidates must be enrolled full-time, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher, have a minimum SAT score of 1450 or ACT score of 32, and rank in the top 10 percent of their high school class.

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3. Bernard B. and Mary L. Brusin Scholarship

Deadline: January 15th

Established by the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation (DSACF), the Bernard B. and Mary L. Brusin Scholarship is granted to Jewish or Roman Catholic students enrolled in college or vocational training who are residents of St. Louis County and are graduating in the top 25 percent of their high school class. Along with the application, students are asked to take an eligibility quiz, submit high school transcripts, and provide college entrance test scores.

4. Catholic Knights College Scholarships

Deadline: March 31st

The Catholic Knights College Scholarships are awarded for $1,000 to financial product-owning members or to students who have performed at least 10 service hours with the Catholic Knights branch, the St. Vincent De Paul Society, or another non-profit organization in the current academic year. Qualified candidates must be members in good standing for at least one year, be 23 years of age or younger, be enrolled full-time at an accredited four-year private or public institution, and submit documentation of community service.

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5. Catholic Order of Foresters Fraternal Scholarship Program

Deadline: October 31st

Each year, the Catholic Order of Foresters Fraternal Scholarship Program offers up to 20 college scholarships for $5,000 as financial assistance to graduating high school seniors who have been individually insured by the Catholic Order of Foresters for at least two years prior to applying. As a merit-based scholarship program, selection will be based solely on high school class rank, ACT or SAT scores, and cumulative high school grade point averages.

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6. Chris Hernandez Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: April 28th

Funded by the Chi Rho Fraternity Foundation, the Chris Hernandez Memorial Scholarship awards $1,000 to undergraduate or graduate students of the Texas Tech Catholic Community who exhibit a strong leadership role in his/her church, community, and university while maintaining a solid academic record. Qualified applicants must be enrolled on a full-time basis, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, submit a two-page essay response, and provide copies of both the high school and current college transcript.

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8. Emery and Mamie Ziegler Scholarship

Deadline: January 1st

At Wilkes University, the Emery and Mamie Ziegler Scholarship is awarded annually for up to $6,000 for a deserving student enrolled on a full-time basis in any undergraduate or graduate degree program who is a member of the Catholic, Jewish, or Protestant religions. Eligible candidates must be residents of Wyoming Valley in northeastern Pennsylvania, be in good academic standing, demonstrate financial need, and exhibit commitment to their faith.

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9. Father Krewitt Scholarship

Deadline: February 28th

Sponsored by the Catholic Kolping Society of America, the Father Krewitt Scholarship is granted for $1,000 to members or children of members of the Roman Catholic faith who are furthering their education or training at any accredited institution in the United States. Each participant in the program will be asked to send a completed application, proof of enrollment in post-secondary education, and a 500-word essay on the assigned theme of that academic year.

Annually, the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association Annual Scholarship Program awards more than 130 college scholarships for $1,250 each to young members in good standing with the association for at least three years and a hold a legal reserve certificate, term certificate, or minimum annuity certificate. Freshmen, sophomore, junior, senior, and full-time graduate students will be chosen by a committee of impartial judges based on academic achievement, family membership, leadership potential, and extenuating circumstances.

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11. Henry A. Ferro Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: April 15th

At St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, the Henry A. Ferro Jr. Memorial Scholarship is granted for $1,000 annually to enrolled full-time undergraduate students who are graduates of a Catholic high school on Long Island or in the Northeast and demonstrate a strong commitment to their Roman Catholic faith. Qualified candidates must be majoring in Sports Administration, demonstrate academic achievement with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, complete the FAFSA form, and exhibit need for financial assistance.

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12. Italian Catholic Federation Scholarships

Deadline: March 15th

Designed to provide financial support to further the education of students who are Roman Catholic and of Italian descent, the Italian Catholic Federation Scholarships are granted annually for up to $1,000 to children or grandchildren of federation members who live within the Roman Catholic Dioceses of California, Nevada, Illinois, or Arizona. Eligible applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher will be evaluated based on scholastic achievements, class rank, financial need, leadership potential, extra-curricular involvement, and recommendations.

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13. John A. Lyons Fellowship Program

Deadline: February 1st

Funded from his sizable endowment to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the John A. Lyons Fellowship Program is available to any Boston College graduates who have been accepted for graduate study in social, natural, or applied sciences at MIT. In order to be eligible for the full tuition waiver and a generous monthly stipend of $2,100 for up to four years, candidates must be of Irish descent, be Roman Catholic, have been born within 20 miles of the Massachusetts State House, and demonstrate financial need.

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14. John Carroll Scholarships

Deadline: March 1st

In honor of founder Father John Carroll who built the academic in 1784 to educate the young American Republic’s Catholic citizens, Georgetown University offers numerous John Carroll Scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled full-time. Qualified applicants for the $3,000 renewable scholarships must demonstrate financial need, exhibit community leadership in extra-curricular involvement, be in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and be of the Roman Catholic faith.

Administered by the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council, the Fourth Degree Pro Deo and Pro Patria Scholarships are granted annually for $1,500 for incoming freshmen who will be enrolled full-time in an accredited undergraduate bachelor’s degree program at any Catholic college or Catholic university in the United States. Candidates must be a member in good standing of the Knights of Columbus, the son or daughter of such a member, or a member of the Columbian Squires.

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16. Mae Lasley Osage Scholarship Fund

Deadline: April 15th

Established by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa in loving memory of an extraordinary woman who dedicated her life to the spiritual and material work of the Church, the Mae Lasley Osage Scholarship Fund provides three awards for $1,000 each to full blood Osage Indian Nation members on the rolls in Pawhuska who are committed to the Roman Catholic faith. Eligible candidates must demonstrate financial need, be enrolled full-time with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and submit a copy of the front and back of the CDIB card.

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17. Mary and Orlin Trapp Science Scholarship

Deadline: March 15th

For members of the Protestant or Roman Catholic Church, the Iowa United Methodist Foundation provides the Mary and Orlin Trapp Science Scholarship for $1,000 to full-time students at any Iowa United Methodist university who are majoring in the physical sciences of Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Zoology, Botany, or Mathematics. Selection for the renewable award will be primarily based on outstanding academic achievement, leadership ability, community service involvement, and high moral character.

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18. Monsignor Michael J. Conroy Endowed Scholarship

Deadline: March 1st

Created by the parishioners of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Pittsburgh, the Monsignor Michael J. Conroy Endowed Scholarship is granted annually to full-time undergraduate students enrolled full-time at Duquesne University who are active members of the Roman Catholic faith. Qualified applicants for the renewable $2,000 scholarship must demonstrate financial need, have achieved a cumulative minimum GPA of 3.2 or higher, and be involved in community service.

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19. Paul and Jackie Greer Scholarship

Deadline: March 1st

Established by the Fremont Area Community Foundation (FACF), the Paul and Jackie Greer Scholarship is awarded each year for $1,000 to graduating high school seniors from Newaygo County, Michigan who regularly attend All Saints Catholic Church in Fremont. Qualified applicants must attach two letters of reference from a teacher and church leader, be involved in community or church activities, and be highly motivated with drive to succeed at any accredited four-year undergraduate institution within Michigan.

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20. Patricia and William Fowler Jr. Endowed Scholarship

Deadline: March 3rd

Annually, the Patricia and William Fowler Jr. Endowed Scholarship is granted for $1,500 to Catholic high school graduates who have been accepted or are currently enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program at Hofstra University and will be participating in lacrosse or football. Selection for the renewable award for up to four years will be based on academic achievement, financial need as demonstrated on the FAFSA form, commitment to athletics, and participation in the Roman Catholic faith.

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21. Rendich Trust Endowed Scholarship

Deadline: March 1st

At Saint Peter’s University, the Rendich Trust Endowed Scholarship is awarded annually for $2,500 to two male students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, religious leadership potential, and commitment to joining the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church. Qualified candidates should be enrolled on a full-time basis with at least 12 credit hours each semester, have declared a major in Theology, and demonstrate financial need for assistance.

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22. Richard C. Vetter Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: March 1st

In honor of the Sergeant from the 75th Precinct in Brooklyn to acknowledge the challenges faced by families of the New York City Police Department, the Richard C. Vetter Memorial Scholarship is offered annually to an academically and/or financially deserving undergraduate Catholic student at St. John’s University who is the child of an NYPD police officer. Eligible recipients must possess a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, be enrolled on a full-time basis, and demonstrate financial need.

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23. Sister Rose Marie Hauber Endowed Scholarship

Deadline: February 15th

At Carlow University in Pittsburgh, PA, the Sister Rose Marie Hauber Endowed Scholarship is provided each year to undergraduate junior-level students enrolled full-time with a major in the Humanities who exemplify the Carlow mission for Catholic faith and service. Preference for the renewable two-year award will be given to daughters of Carlow alumnae, Pennsylvania residents, those who have great financial need for tuition assistance, and those who exhibit strong academic achievement with a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher.

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24. Teachers for Catholic Schools Award

Deadline: April 15th

Sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association, the Teachers for Catholic Schools Award is granted annually for undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in one of Clarke University’s accredited elementary or secondary education programs. Eligible candidates must be actively pursuing an education to teach in a Catholic school after graduation, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher, demonstrate financial need, and be involved in the university’s campus ministry.

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25. Winston-Salem Foundation Emma Kapp Ogburn Memorial Fund

Deadline: June 15th

Each year, the Winston-Salem Foundation offers the Emma Kapp Ogburn Memorial Fund to graduating high school seniors from Davie, Davidson, Forsyth, Surry, Stokes, Yadkin, and Wilkes County of North Carolina who are dedicated to pursuing a degree in preparation for full-time service as lay persons within the Roman Catholic Church. Along with the application, candidates must submit a high school transcript, one letter of recommendation from a clergy member, and a signed college acceptance letter.

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While the sticker costs of attending a public college or private Catholic university continue to steadily climb, it is important to realize that few students are paying that full price due to the increased amount of need-based and merit-based financial aid options available. If you are an active member of the Roman Catholic faith, it is highly recommended that you further investigate these 25 great scholarships for Catholic students to expand your financial resources for attending post-secondary education.